HIM Business School
HIM Business School, founded in 1984 as the École Hôtelière de Montreux, has evolved from a traditional hospitality school into a broader business education built firmly on its Swiss hospitality legacy, based across four historic buildings in the heart of Montreux on Lake Geneva.
Hospitality roots, business breadth
While HIM has broadened its focus to finance, marketing and management alongside hospitality, its founding hospitality DNA still shapes how the school teaches every subject, with an emphasis on customer experience, service and cultural awareness running through the entire curriculum. Students choose from four specialisations, including hospitality itself, giving them the flexibility to pursue whichever part of the global service economy interests them most.
Genuine paid experience built into the degree
Every Bachelor of Business Administration student completes eighteen months of paid internships across the three year programme, spending as much time in genuine workplaces as in the classroom. Ranked eighth in the world and sixth for academic and employer reputation by the 2026 QS rankings, HIM sits within the wider Swiss Education Group network of hospitality and business schools.
Studying at HIM Business School offers several distinct strengths:
- Ranked eighth worldwide and sixth for academic and employer reputation
- Eighteen months of paid internship experience built into a three year degree
- A downtown Montreux campus across four historic buildings
- Four specialisations spanning hospitality, finance, marketing and management
- Membership of the wider Swiss Education Group network
A launchpad into hospitality and wider business careers
Graduates move into hospitality, finance, marketing and general management roles across the world, carrying with them the discipline of Swiss hospitality training applied to a genuinely broad business education. For candidates seeking a hospitality grounded business degree with real career flexibility, HIM offers a distinctive path.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is headhunting?
Headhunting is the direct, proactive approach of specific professionals for a specific role, rather than waiting for applications. It is common for senior, scarce or confidential positions. CourtesyMasters has practised headhunting and direct sourcing for hospitality since 1999, always discreetly and with respect for everyone involved.
What is a boutique executive search firm?
A boutique executive search firm is a small, specialised practice that takes on a limited number of assignments with senior attention, in contrast to large, volume-driven firms. CourtesyMasters has worked this way since 1999: a dedicated team, deep hospitality roots and personal involvement from first briefing to final placement. Read more about us.
What is the difference between executive search and recruitment?
Recruitment typically fills open vacancies through advertising and applications. Executive search works the other way around: a consultant proactively identifies and approaches accomplished professionals, including those not actively looking, and guides both sides through a confidential, structured process. CourtesyMasters combines both disciplines, always with a hospitality focus.
What is executive search?
Executive search is a specialised form of recruitment for senior and hard-to-fill positions. Instead of waiting for applications, a search partner proactively identifies, approaches and assesses proven professionals, often confidentially. CourtesyMasters has applied this craft exclusively to hospitality since 1999, through a structured six-step methodology. Discover more about executive search services.
How can I report recruitment fraud or impersonation involving CourtesyMasters?
If you receive a suspicious message or offer that claims to come from CourtesyMasters, please contact us directly before responding. We will confirm whether the communication is genuine and take action to protect you.
Where is CourtesyMasters headquartered?
CourtesyMasters is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and works internationally from hubs in Madrid, Florence, Rome, London, Monaco and Cannes. See our locations for the full overview.
When was CourtesyMasters founded?
CourtesyMasters was founded in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in 1999. From Rotterdam to the world: over more than twenty-five years we have grown into an international hospitality search partner built on trust and discretion, working today from our headquarters in The Hague. Read more in our story.